Domestic Appliances

ABSTRACT

A domestic appliance includes a casing with an openable cover. Storage means is provided within the casing, together with means for moving the storage means relative to the casing in response to movement of the cover. The moving means includes means for moving the storage means in a first manner when the cover is opened so as to provide access to the storage means and means for moving at least a part of the storage means in a second manner so as to provide access to items within the storage means.

This invention relates to improvements relating to domestic appliances,such as refrigerators, cookers, freezers and dishwashers, and alsoincluding furniture, such as kitchen cupboards.

Although domestic appliances are generally energy-efficient and operateeffectively, the manner in which the interiors of such appliances areaccessed is often inconvenient for a user, who often finds it necessaryto bend, stoop or kneel and finds it difficult to reach into theinterior of an appliance.

For example, when a refrigerator is full, with food being stored in theappliance, it is difficult for a user to locate and remove an itemstored in the region of the rear of a shelf. It is generally necessaryto remove, or at least to move, other items in order to locate thedesired item.

Accessing a freezer compartment or other region at the bottom of arefrigerator can be difficult for the elderly or infirm, who may nothave the same range of movement as younger users. Bending in order toaccess the lower regions of an appliance can be difficult andfrustrating for many users and can result in injury.

When a chest freezer is full, it can be difficult and frustrating for auser to find an item stored at the bottom of the freezer. Not only canthe item be difficult to find, but it is necessary for the user to bendover in order to reach the lower region of the interior of the freezer.

Similar problems can arise with kitchen cupboards which are located inthe region of the kitchen floor.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved domestic appliance which overcomes or at least ameliorates theabove-described drawbacks of known appliances.

According to the present invention there is provided a domesticappliance comprising a casing, an openable cover for the casing, storagemeans within the casing, and means for moving the storage means relativeto the casing in response to movement of the cover, the moving meansincluding means for moving the storage means in a first manner when thecover is opened so as to provide access to the storage means and meansfor moving at least a part of the storage means in a second manner so asto provide access to items within the storage means.

The storage means may be mounted on the cover.

The cover may be substantially planar or the cover may be curved, forexample semi-circular.

The cover may be hinged relative to the casing so as to provide thefirst manner of movement. Alternatively, the cover may be slidablerelative to the casing, for example towards and away from the casing, soas to provide the first manner of movement.

The cover may be provided with support means for supporting at least apart of the cover when it has been opened.

The moving means may include means for moving the storage means in athird manner when the cover is opened so as to provide access to thestorage means. The storage means may be mounted relative to the cover bysupport means which is movable upwardly and downwardly relative to thecover so as to move the storage means in the third manner. The mountingmeans may include track members mounted on an inner face of the cover.Alternatively, the mounting means may include track members mountedwithin the casing.

The storage means may include secondary storage means which is pivotablymounted on the primary storage means for movement in a substantiallyhorizontal plane so as to provide the second manner of movement. Themounting means for the secondary storage means may be arranged in theregion of a free edge of the cover. The mounting means may be in theform of a hinge.

Alternatively, the mounting means may include secondary storage meanswhich is slidably mounted on the primary storage means so as to providethe second manner of movement. The second manner of movement may be inthe same direction as the first manner of movement or may besubstantially perpendicular thereto.

The mounting means may permit the secondary storage means to beremovable from the primary storage means.

The secondary storage means may be selected from a tray, a drawer, ashelf, and a basket.

The secondary storage means may be movable upwardly and downwardlyrelative to the primary storage means, for example to adjust the spacingbetween adjacent shelves.

The secondary storage means may be curved, for example substantiallycircular, oval or elliptical. Alternatively the secondary storage meansmay be substantially rectangular.

The storage means may be movable manually or automatically, for examplein the event of a user activating a suitable switch. Where one manner ofmovement is effected automatically or manually, another manner ofmovement may be effected by the same or different means.

The appliance may be selected from, for example, a refrigerator, afreezer, a cooker, a dishwasher and furniture, for example a storagecupboard.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show moreclearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, byway of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 to 5 show embodiments of a combination refrigerator-freezeraccording to the present invention;

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an embodiment of a chest freezer according to aspectsof the present invention;

FIGS. 8 to 10 show embodiments of a domestic cooking appliance accordingto the present invention;

FIGS. 11 to 13 show embodiments of a refrigerator according to thepresent invention;

FIGS. 14 to 16 show an embodiment of a dishwashing machine according tothe present invention;

FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic perspective view of part of a kitchenincorporating appliances according to the present invention;

FIGS. 18 to 20 show an arrangement of kitchen cupboards according to anaspect of the present invention; and

FIGS. 21 to 23 show a variation of the configuration of the appliancesaccording to the present invention.

FIGS. 1 to 5 show various embodiments of a combinationrefrigerator-freezer having a refrigerator 1 in an upper part and afreezer 3 in a lower part. FIG. 1 is a perspective view with the doorsof both parts of the appliance closed and shows that the appliance isgenerally in the form of a rectangular box or casing having a curved,for example semi-circular, front. However, it should be noted that theappliance may have any convenient overall shape. Internally therefrigerator 1 and the freezer 3 may also be curved, for examplesemi-circular, in order to provide a suitable space within both therefrigerator and the freezer, for example of circular cross-section asillustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5 giving rise to a space of cylindricalconfiguration.

FIG. 2 shows a door 5 of the freezer which has been opened, the doorbeing pivoted open on hinges 6 or the like. The inner side of the doorcarries a number of substantially circular trays 7 (or compartments) tofit within the cylindrical interior of the freezer 3. Such aconfiguration readily allows the door 5 of the freezer to be opened andclosed. Shown diagrammatically at the top of the appliance is a circularmember 11 and a pair of arrows indicating that shelves (not shown)within the cylindrical interior of the refrigerator 1 are rotatable.This will be explained in more detail hereinafter.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, the trays 7 are pivotably mounted in theregion of the free edge of the door 5 by way of hinges 9 such that thetrays 7 are pivotable in a substantially horizontal plane outwardly fromthe freezer 3 and the door 5 thereof so as to facilitate access to thecontents of the trays 7. The trays 7 are also removable from the door 5,for example by way of the hinges 9, so as to facilitate cleaningthereof. The trays 7 need not be circular, but could have any suitableconfiguration, such as oval or elliptical, which allows the doors of therefrigerator and of the freezer to be readily opened and closed. Itshould be noted that the freezer 3 in FIG. 3 is smaller than that shownin FIG. 2 in that there is space only for three trays 7 and therefrigerator is correspondingly larger.

FIG. 4 shows that the trays 7 are pivotably mounted on a curved support13 mounted on the freezer door 5, the support 13 being movable upwardlyand downwardly relative to the remainder of the door 5 by a lifting andlowering means 15 shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4 so as to facilitateaccess to the contents of the trays 7 without the need for the user tobend substantially. FIG. 4 shows the trays 7 in an elevatedconfiguration. As indicated in FIG. 4, the lifting and lowering means 15may be provided within the structure of the door 5, for example runningin tracks or the like provided on the inner face of the door 5 in orderto minimise friction, and may include an electric motor together with anassociated gearing mechanism. However, it should be noted that thelifting and lowering mechanism may be provided elsewhere in relation tothe appliance, such as externally of the door 5. The construction ofsuch a lifting and lowering mechanism is well within the capability ofthe average skilled worker and does not require any invention. Ifdesired, the lifting and lowering means 15 may be activatedautomatically when the freezer door 5 is opened. Alternatively, thelifting and lowering means may be activated by means of a suitableswitch or may be operable manually. Where the lifting and lowering means15 is activated automatically this may be combined with automaticopening of the freezer door 5, such as by means of a suitable switch.The trays 7 may be rotated outwardly, either automatically or manually,either individually or collectively.

In FIG. 5 a door 17 of the refrigerator 1 is open, revealing a number ofcircular shelves 19. As shown by the arrows adjacent to the shelves inFIG. 5, the shelves 19 can be rotated in either direction. If desired,the shelves may be rotated by a rotating system 21 which may rotate theshelves either individually or collectively. The rotating system 21 maycause the shelves 19 to rotate in a number of different modes, eitherpreset or selectable by the user. For example the shelves may be rotatedautomatically or semi-automatically (such as a predetermined degree ofrotation for each activation of a switch) and may be rotated stepwise ifdesired. As a further alternative, the shelves 19 may be rotated undermanual control, such as by actuating a suitable switch. As a furtheralternative, the rotating system 21 may be omitted and the shelves 19may be rotated manually.

Such an appliance may be referred to as an ASCEART (Automated ShelvesCompartment Elevator And Revolving Technology) appliance

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a perspective view of a chest freezer, with FIG. 7showing the freezer having a casing and a number of compartments 23arranged side-by-side, each compartment having a number of drawers 25,while FIG. 6 shows the compartments 23 lowered into a body 27 of thefreezer and sealing the freezer in a closed configuration. Thus, thetops of the compartments 23 function as a lid for the freezer when fullylowered into the body 27. The compartments 23 are mounted within thebody 27 by means of a support system (not shown) which moves thecompartments upwardly and downwardly with minimal friction. As can beseen from FIG. 7, the compartments 23 can be elevated to differentheights, thus allowing a differing number of drawers 25 to be exposed.The compartments can be raised and lowered independently of each otherand so can be raised to the same or different heights, or only a singlecompartment can be raised by itself. Consequently, a user can raise achosen compartment, for example using a suitable switch to actuate thesupport system in order to raise the compartment to an appropriateheight in order to open and to access a desired drawer 25 without theneed for substantial bending. The drawers may be opened and closedmanually, using a handle 29 or may be opened and closed automaticallyusing a suitable switch. The construction of such a support system iswell within the capability of the average skilled worker and does notitself require any invention.

FIGS. 8 to 10 show a domestic cooker, with FIG. 8 being a perspectiveview of the cooker with an oven door 31 in a closed position. As can beseen from FIG. 8 the cooker is generally in the form of a rectangularbox or casing having a curved, for example, semi-circular, front,although the cooker may have any convenient shape. Internally the ovenmay be curved, for example semi-circular, in order to provide a suitablespace within the oven, for example of circular cross-section giving riseto a space of cylindrical configuration.

FIG. 9 shows the door 31 of the oven in an opened position, the doorbeing pivotably mounted on hinges 32 or the like. The inner side of thedoor carries a number of substantially circular oven shelves 33 to fitwithin the cylindrical interior of the oven. Such a configurationreadily allows the door 31 of the oven to be opened and closed withoutthe shelves catching on the oven.

As can be seen from FIGS. 9 and 10, the oven shelves 33 are pivotablymounted in the region of the free edge of the oven door 31 by way ofhinges 35 or the like such that the shelves 33 are pivotable in asubstantially horizontal plane outwardly from the oven and the oven doorso as to facilitate access to the shelves. The shelves 33 are alsoremovable from the oven door, for example by way of the hinges 35, so asto facilitate cleaning thereof and also to enable the number of shelvesto be varied. The shelves may also be movable upwardly and downwardlyrelative to each other in order the adapt the spacing between theshelves to the foods being cooked within the oven. The shelves 33 do notneed to be circular, but could have any suitable configuration, such asoval or elliptical, which allows the door of the oven to be readilyopened and closed. It should be noted that the configuration of the ovenin FIG. 10 is different to that in FIG. 9 in that three shelves 33 areprovided in the oven of FIG. 10, while only two shelves are provided inFIG. 9.

As can be seen particularly from FIG. 10, the shelves 33 are pivotablymounted on a curved support 37 which is in turn mounted on the insideface of the oven door 31. The support 37 is movable upwardly anddownwardly relative to the remainder of the oven door 31 by a liftingand lowering means 39 shown diagrammatically in FIG. 10 so as tofacilitate access to the shelves 33 without the need for the user tobend substantially. FIG. 10 shows the shelves 33 in an elevatedconfiguration. As indicated in FIG. 10, the lifting and lowering means39 may be provided within the structure of the door 31, for examplerunning in tracks or the like provided on the inner face of the door.The construction of such a lifting and lowering mechanism is well withinthe capability of the average skilled worker and does not itself requireany invention. If desired, the lifting and lowering means 39 may beactivated automatically when the oven door 31 is opened. Alternatively,the lifting and lowering means may be activated by means of a suitableswitch or may be operable manually. Where the lifting and lowering means39 is activated automatically this may be combined with automaticopening of the oven door 31, such as by means of a suitable switch. Theshelves 33 may be pivotable outwardly, whether automatically ormanually, either individually or collectively.

In addition to an oven, the domestic cooker of FIGS. 8 to 10 alsoincludes a hob 41 which is provided with a number of heated areas 43. Asindicated by the arrows in FIGS. 9 and 10, the hob 41 is rotatablymounted above the oven in order that the user can rotate the hob tobring a desired heated area 43 from a rear region of the hob to a frontregion thereof. Such an arrangement allows the user to obtain readyaccess to cooking utensils irrespective of which heated area 43 is beingused. This is particularly beneficial when all the heated areas arebeing used or when heated areas of differing size are required, therespective heated areas being spaced apart on the hob surface. Theconstruction of such a rotating arrangement is well within thecapability of the average skilled worker and does not itself require anyinvention.

FIGS. 11 to 13 show various embodiments of a refrigerator, in particularan under-counter refrigerator. FIG. 11 is a perspective view with thedoor of the refrigerator closed and shows that the appliance isgenerally in the form of a rectangular box or casing having a curved,for example semi-circular, front, although the appliance may have anyconvenient shape. Internally the refrigerator may also be curved, forexample semi-circular, in order to provide a suitable space within theappliance, for example of circular cross-section as illustrated in FIGS.12 and 13 giving rise to a space of cylindrical configuration.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a door 45 of the refrigerator which has been openedby pivoting the door on hinges 46 or the like, revealing a number ofsubstantially circular shelves (or trays) 47 to fit within the circularinterior of the refrigerator. Such a configuration readily allows thedoor 45 of the refrigerator to be opened and closed. It will be notedthat two shelves 47 are shown in FIG. 12, while three shelves 47 areshown in FIG. 13.

As can be seen from FIGS. 12 and 13, the shelves 47 are pivotablymounted in the region of the free edge of the door 45 by way of hinges49 or the like such that the shelves 47 are pivotable in a substantiallyhorizontal plane outwardly from the refrigerator and the door 45 thereofso as to facilitate access to the contents of the refrigerator stored onthe shelves 47. The shelves 47 are also removable from the door 45, forexample by way of the hinges 49, so as to facilitate cleaning thereof.The shelves 47 need not be circular, but could have any suitableconfiguration, such as oval or elliptical, which allows the door of therefrigerator to be readily opened and closed.

FIGS. 12 and 13 also show a substantially circular freezer compartment51 which may also be pivotably mounted in the region of the free edge ofthe door 45 (and removable therefrom) by way of one or more hinges 49 soas to be pivotable in a substantially horizontal plane outwardly fromthe refrigerator to facilitate access to the interior of the freezercompartment. However, the freezer compartment is provided with a cover(or lid) 53 which is pivotably mounted in the region of the free edge ofthe door 45 in a manner similar to the shelves 47 so as to provideaccess to the interior of the freezer compartment 51. Alternatively, thecover 53 may be pivotably (or otherwise) mounted on the freezercompartment itself. The freezer compartment 51 is provided withconnection means 55 for connecting internally of the refrigerator tomeans for cooling the interior of the freezer compartment.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show that the shelves 47 and the freezer compartment 51are pivotably mounted on a curved support 57 mounted on the refrigeratordoor 45, the support 57 being movable upwardly and downwardly relativeto the remainder of the door 45 by a lifting and lowering means 59 showndiagrammatically in FIGS. 12 and 13 so as to facilitate access to thecontents of the shelves and the freezer compartment without the need forthe user to bend substantially. FIG. 13 shows the shelves 47 in anelevated configuration. As indicated in FIG. 13, the lifting andlowering means 59 may be provided within the structure of the door 45,for example running in tracks or the like provided on the inner face ofthe door. The lifting and lowering means may be provided elsewhererelative to the appliance if desired. The construction of such a liftingand lowering means is well within the capability of the average skilledworker and does not require any invention. If desired, the lifting andlowering means 59 may be activated automatically when the refrigeratordoor 45 is opened. Alternatively, the lifting and lowering means may beactivated by means of a suitable switch or may be operated manually.Where the lifting and lowering means 59 is activated automatically thismay be combined with automatic opening of the refrigerator door, such asby means of a suitable switch. The shelves 47 and, if desired, thefreezer compartment 51, whether operated automatically or manually, maybe rotated outwardly either individually or collectively.

The refrigerator door 45 may be provided with ground-engaging supportmeans 61 which assists in supporting the door in the region of the freeedge thereof when the door is open and therefore serves to reduce thestress on the door and its supports when the door is open. The supportmeans 61 may include a wheel, castor or the like if desired.

FIGS. 14 to 16 show an embodiment of a dishwashing machine. FIG. 14 isa,perspective view with the door of the dishwasher closed and shows thatthe appliance is generally in the form of a rectangular box or casinghaving a curved, for example, semi-circular, front, although theappliance may have an alternative shape if desired. Internally, thedishwasher may also be curved, for example semi-circular, in order toprovide a suitable space within the appliance, for example of circularcross-section as illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16 giving rise to a spaceof cylindrical configuration.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show a door 63 of the dishwasher which has been openedby pivoting the door on hinges 64 or the like, revealing a number ofsubstantially circular baskets 65 to fit within the circular interior ofthe dishwasher. Such a configuration readily allows the door 63 of thedishwasher to be opened and closed.

As can be seen from FIGS. 15 and 16, the baskets 65 are pivotablymounted in the region of the free edge of the door 63 by way of hinges67 or the like such that the baskets are pivotable in a substantiallyhorizontal plane outwardly from the dishwasher and the door 63 thereofso as to facilitate access to the items within the dishwasher andaccommodated within the baskets 65. The baskets 65 are also removablefrom the dishwasher door 63, for example by way of hinges 67, so as tofacilitate cleaning thereof. The baskets 65 need not be circular, butcould have any convenient configuration, such as oval or elliptical,which allows the door of the dishwasher to be readily opened and closed.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show that the baskets 65 are pivotably mounted on acurved support 69 mounted on the dishwasher door 63, the support 69being movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the remainder of thedoor 63 by a lifting and lowering means 71, shown diagrammatically inFIG. 16, so as to facilitate access to the contents of the baskets 65without the need for the user to bend substantially. FIG. 16 shows thebaskets 65 in an elevated configuration. As indicated in FIG. 16, thelifting and lowering means 71 may be provided within the structure ofthe door 63, for example running in tracks or the like provided on theinner face of the door or elsewhere relative to the appliance ifdesired. The construction of such a lifting and lowering means is wellwithin the capability of the average skilled worker and does not requireany invention. If desired, the lifting and lowering means 71 may beactivated automatically when the dishwasher door 63 is opened.Alternatively, the lifting and lowering means may be activated by meansof a suitable switch or may be operated manually. Where the lifting andlowering means 71 is activated automatically, this may be combined withautomatic opening of the dishwasher door 63, such as by means of asuitable switch. The baskets 65, whether operated automatically ormanually, may be rotated outwardly either individually or collectively.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of part of a kitchen incorporating acooker according to FIGS. 8 to 10 and a combination refrigerator-freezeraccording to FIGS. 1 to 5.

FIGS. 18 to 20 are perspective views of an arrangement of kitchencupboards in which at least cupboards 73 and 75 comprise a casing and adoor and incorporate aspects of the present invention. As can be seenfrom FIG. 19, the cupboards 73 and 75 incorporate a track system 77 orthe like which can be positioned, for example, in the region of the top(cupboard 73) or bottom (cupboard 75) of the cupboard in order to allowa shelving unit 79 to slide out from the cupboard and to return to aclosed position.

As can be seen from FIG. 20, the shelving unit 79 incorporates a liftingand lowering means indicated by the arrows in FIG. 20 so as to allowshelves 81 within the shelving unit to be lowered and raised asappropriate. As is apparent from FIG. 20, shelves 81 at a significantdistance above ground level will first be lowered to provide access tothe contents of the shelves and then raised, while shelves close toground level will first be raised to provide access to the contents ofthe shelves and then lowered. Thus, the shelves 81 in the cupboard 73will be lowered to provide access and then raised for stowing in thecupboard, while the shelves 81 of the cupboard 75 will be raised toprovide access and then lowered for stowing in the cupboard.

FIG. 20 also shows that the shelves 81, once they have been moved(lowered or raised) to provide access, can then be moved in asubstantially horizontal plane, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 20,to further improve access to an individual shelf. The shelves 81 may bemoved in the same general direction as the initial movement of theshelving unit 79 so as to further extend the combination of the shelvingunit and the shelf in a single direction, or alternatively the shelves81 may be moved in a direction substantially perpendicular (laterally)to the initial direction of movement of the shelving unit 79.

If desired, the lifting and lowering means may be activatedautomatically when the cupboard 73, 75 is opened. Alternatively, thelifting and lowering means may be activated by means of a suitableswitch or may be operable manually. The further movement of the shelvesmay be operated manually or by means of a suitable switch.

It should be noted that the sliding shelves can be replaced by otherarrangements if desired. For example, the shelves may be rotatable aboutan axis or one or more of the shelves may replaced by a drawer, forexample for cutlery.

As an alternative, in a manner similar to that described above, forexample in relation to FIGS. 1 to 5, the kitchen cupboards may have acurved, for example semi-circular, door. The shelves may then be mountedon a curved support mounted internally of the door, the support beingmovable upwardly and downwardly relative to the remainder of the door bya lifting and lowering means so as to facilitate access to the shelves.The shelves may then be pivotably mounted in a region of the supportadjacent to a free edge of the door. The shelves need not be circular,but could have any suitable configuration, such as oval or elliptical,which allows the door to be readily opened and closed. As noted above,the appliance may have an alternative shape if desired.

FIGS. 21 to 23 show a variation of the configuration of the variousappliances, with particular reference to a combinationrefrigerator-freezer comprising a casing with a slidable door. FIG. 21shows a combination refrigerator-freezer in a closed configuration,including a freezer 83, while FIG. 22 shows that the freezerincorporates a track system 85 or the like which is positioned in theregion of the bottom of the freezer in order to allow a support unit 87to slide out of the freezer and to return to a closed position. As canbe seen from FIGS. 22 and 23, a pack of drawers 89 is mounted within thesupport unit 87 and incorporates a lifting and lowering means 91, showndiagrammatically in FIG. 23, so as to facilitate access to the drawers89 without the need for the user to bend substantially. FIG. 23indicates that the lifting and lowering means 91 may be provided withinthe structure of the freezer, for example running in tracks or the likeprovided on the inside face of a closure 93 for the freezer 83, orelsewhere relative to the appliance if desired. The construction of sucha lifting and lowering means is well within the capability of theaverage skilled worker and does not require any invention.

Once the pack of drawers 89 has been raised (or lowered) to the requiredheight, the drawers may be opened and subsequently closed. If desired,the lifting and lowering means may be activated automatically when thefreezer 83 is opened (which may be accomplished either manually or bymeans of a suitable switch). Alternatively, the lifting and loweringmeans may be activated by means of a suitable switch or may be operatedmanually. Opening and closing of the drawers may be effected eithermanually or by means of a suitable switch.

1-3. (canceled)
 4. An appliance as claimed in claim 27, wherein the door (5, 31, 45, 63) is curved. 5-6. (canceled)
 7. An appliance as claimed in claim 27, wherein the cover (45) is provided with support means (61) for supporting at least a part of the cover when it has been opened. 8-9. (canceled)
 10. An appliance as claimed in claim 9, 27, wherein the mounting means includes track members (15, 39, 59, 71) mounted on an inner face of the door (5, 31, 45, 63). 11-13. (canceled)
 14. An appliance as claimed in claim 27, wherein the storage means (7, 33, 47,
 51. 65) is mounted the support means (13, 37, 57, 69) by way of a hinge. 15-17. (canceled)
 18. An appliance as claimed in claim 27, wherein the storage means (7, 33, 47, 51, 65) is removable from the support means (13, 37, 57, 69).
 19. An appliance as claimed in claim 27, wherein the storage means is selected from a tray (7), a shelf (33, 47), and a basket (65).
 20. (canceled)
 21. An appliance as claimed in claim 27, wherein the storage means is curved (7, 33, 47).
 22. (canceled)
 23. An appliance as claimed in claim 27, wherein the storage means is movable upwardly and downwardly manually.
 24. An appliance as claimed in claim 27, wherein the storage means is pivotable automatically.
 25. (canceled)
 26. An appliance as claimed in claim 27, wherein the appliance is selected from a refrigerator, a freezer (3, 51), a cooker, a dishwasher and furniture.
 27. A domestic appliance comprising a casing, a door (5, 31, 45, 63) pivotally mounted on the casing, storage means (7, 33, 47, 51, 65) arranged within the casing when the door is closed, and support means (13, 37, 57, 69) supporting the storage means and mounted on the door internally thereof so as to be movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the door when the door is open so as to provide access to the storage means, the storage means being pivotally mounted on the support means in the region of a free edge of the door so as to pivot in a substantially horizontal plane to provide access to items within the storage means.
 28. An appliance as claimed in claim 4, wherein the door (5, 31, 45, 63) is semi-circular.
 29. An appliance as claimed in claim 21, wherein the storage means is curved (7, 33, 47) in a form selected from substantially circular, oval and elliptical.
 30. An appliance as claimed in claim 27, wherein the storage means is movable upwardly and downwardly automatically.
 31. An appliance as claimed in claim 30, wherein the storage means is movable upwardly and downwardly automatically in the event of a user activating a suitable switch.
 32. An appliance as claimed in claim 24, wherein the storage means is pivotable automatically in the event of a user activating a suitable switch
 33. An appliance as claimed in claim 27, wherein the storage means is pivotable manually.
 34. An appliance as claimed in claim 26, wherein the appliance is a storage cupboard. 